Key facts
- Eight bodies were found in a state of advanced deterioration at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
- Inspectors cited a lack of freezer storage as the reason for the deterioration.
- The trust is already under fire for significant maternity failings, with over 500 mothers and babies harmed.
- The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) identified critical shortfalls in mortuary services, including inadequate checks and storage.
- Two men have been arrested in connection with the mortuary service practices.
Inspectors found eight bodies in a state of "advanced deterioration" at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust due to insufficient freezer storage, according to a report from the Human Tissue Authority (HTA).
The trust, already under intense scrutiny for widespread maternity failings that harmed more than 500 mothers and babies, was found by HTA inspectors in March to have critical shortfalls in its mortuary services. The inspectors noted that a lack of long-term freezer storage meant bodies were routinely stored in sealed bags within a refrigerated area, which had a detrimental effect on their condition and dignity.
During a body audit, eight bodies were identified as showing advanced deterioration because they had not been transferred to a freezer in a timely manner. Staff were advised to transfer them to available freezer spaces before the inspection team left.
Further issues highlighted in the HTA report included a lack of systematic checks on certain categories of bodies, including those in frozen storage or hermetically sealed bags, and inconsistent timeframes for checks that were not conducted on a defined schedule. This increased the risk of the wrong body being released to funeral services.
Ms Ockenden's comprehensive report into the trust detailed "deeply embedded systemic failures" and found examples of poor mortuary care, including an early gestation baby disposed of as clinical waste and dehumanising language used by clinicians. The problems first came to light after Jack and Sarah Hawkins discovered their stillborn daughter's body had decomposed so badly it had to be triple-bagged for her funeral.
Nottinghamshire Police recently arrested two men in connection with operating practices within the trust's mortuary service.